BEN STILLER

Full Name, Age & Place of Birth

Benjamin Edward Meara Stiller was born on November 30, 1965, in New York City, New York, USA. As of June 2025, he is 59 years old .

Family Roots & Early Upbringing

Ben Stiller grew up on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the son of legendary comedy duo Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara . Raised in a household rich in entertainment culture, he celebrated both Hanukkah and Christmas, and had a bar mitzvah—reflecting his blended Jewish and Irish-American heritage .

Education & Early Creative Ventures

Stiller briefly attended UCLA in 1984 but left after nine months to pursue performing arts. He made his Broadway debut in The House of Blue Leaves in 1985 and transitioned to film with Fresh Horses (1988), marking his first on-screen role .

TV Beginnings & Sketch Comedy

By 1989, Ben became a writer for Saturday Night Live, though he left after five weeks due to creative tensions . He then created and starred in The Ben Stiller Show—a cult sketch series featuring future comedic talents, earning him an Emmy for writing in 1993 .

Rise to Film Stardom

Stiller became a household name with There’s Something About Mary (1998), followed by other hits such as Meet the Parents (2000), where he assumed the role of neurotic everyman Greg Focker. He also starred in cult comedies like Zoolander, Night at the Museum, Tropic Thunder, and family animations like Madagascar—becoming a key figure in the late ’90s and 2000s comedy scene .

Filmmaker & Award-Winning Director

Beyond acting, Stiller has worn many hats: writer, director, producer. He directed acclaimed projects like Reality Bites (1994), all episodes of Escape at Dannemora, and received acclaim for directing multiple episodes of Apple TV+’s psychological thriller, Severance .

Time Away & Current Projects

After stepping back from starring in leading film roles, Ben took on supporting parts in Greed (2019), Hubie Halloween (2020), Locked Down (2021), and Bros (2022). He made a return to feature film with Nutcrackers in 2024—a comedy-drama that premiered at TIFF . He continues to produce via Red Hour Films, including upcoming comedy The Dink about pickleball, starring alongside Christine Taylor .

Personal Life & Family

Ben married actress Christine Taylor in 2000, and they have two children: Ella and Quinlin . They separated in 2017 but reunited during the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020, emphasizing their commitment to family . Ben is also an outspoken advocate for refugee rights as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and is a die-hard New York Knicks fan .

Recognitions & Cultural Legacy

• Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing (The Ben Stiller Show, 1993) 

• Nominations for DGA, Peabody Awards (Severance, Escape at Dannemora)

• A central figure in the “Frat Pack”—a group of prominent male comedic actors in the 2000s